Marijuana is arguably the most
heavily scrutinized drug available
today.

Across the United States, there
are virtually droves of individuals
who swear by this substance,
and likewise just as many who
unwaveringly oppose it. As such, it is
not surprising that college campuses
are often fraught with debate, as
they offer a four-year window for
experimentation, personal preference,
and self-discovery.

As a staff member at the
University of Wisconsin-Stevens
Point on-campus counseling center,
licensed psychologist Dr. Jason
Siewert works regularly to educate
students on the dangers of substance
abuse.

“I think we’re [UWSP] pretty
consistent with other schools of our
size,” Siewert said. “What we find
is a relatively broad cross-section of
students have experimented with
marijuana, and I would say that there
are far fewer heavy-users than those
who use intermittently or have tried
it once or twice.”

Siewert’s assertion isn’t far off
according to a 2012 survey conducted
by the National Institute on Drug
Abuse, which concluded that by age
25 just over half of all individuals will
have tried marijuana at least once.

“It’s probably one of the easier
substances to get a hold of, certainly
more so than any of the harder drugs
that you or I could name. People
who are looking for a buzz but don’t
necessarily want to get into what
they’ve already personally labeled as
‘hard drugs’ may gravitate towards
marijuana,” Siewert said.

Research by the National Institute
on Drug Abuse has found that “heavy
marijuana users generally report
lower life satisfaction, poorer mental
and physical health, relationship
problems, and less academic and
career success compared to their
peers who came from similar
backgrounds.” This study, and other
studies illustrating similar results,
have also prompted countless
education and preventing efforts,
increased the severity of federal
penalties regarding marijuana,
and cemented the substance as an
irrefutable gateway drug.

“Personally, I do not support the
use of marijuana, but I’m not going
to go out there preaching to everyone
about it,” said Kirsten Kreger, a
senior political science major. “I don’t
support it because it is illegal, and
even if it did become legal, I would
not partake in its uses because that’s
just not me.”

Kreger’s disapproval of regular
marijuana use is parallel to many US
citizens, though in recent decades,
public opinion has undeniably
began to change. A national survey​commissioned in the April of 2013
by the Pew Research Center reported
that 72% of Americans now believe
that “government efforts to enforce
marijuana laws cost more than they
are worth,” while 60% say that the US
government should no longer enforce
federal anti-marijuana laws in states
that have approved its use.

“What people want to do to
their bodies is their own decision.
Personally, I don’t smoke, but
I feel it’s not really that big of a
deal, and certainly manageable in
moderation,” said Nicole Pare, a
senior communication major.

Similarly, Siewert admits that
cases of actual marijuana abuse are
rare, even within his field.

“I haven’t personally in
my professional role seen an
overwhelming number of people
come in with consequences associated
with their marijuana use being a
driving factor in their lives,” Siewert
said. “I’m not saying never, just not
ordinarily.”

Given this shift in societal
outlook, it is not surprising that there
are also those who not only approve
of regular marijuana use, but also
encourage it.

“Student A,” a UWSP student
who has chosen to remain anonymous
due to the illegality of marijuana, first
smoked when she was 15 years old,
and now refers to herself as a “regular
smoker.”

“I smoke nearly every day,
sometimes multiple times a day,”
Student A said.

Though the drug can have a
negative reputation, Student A
believes that her continued marijuana
use has never had a negative effect
on her.

“I don’t think it has affected
me negatively, but that’s from my
perspective. Maybe other people have
thought differently,” Student A said.

“Student B,” a UWSP student
who has also vied for anonymity as
to avoid legal repercussions, is also
a “regular smoker”, and agreed with
Student A.

“I smoke every day, and am
pretty much willing to smoke before
anything. I feel it doesn’t hinder me
in any of my daily events,” Student
B said. “I’ll smoke before class; I’ve
even talked to advisors high.”

As part of a 2010 survey
administered by the U.S. Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, both student A and B
are part of the 21.5 percent of college-
aged Americans who smoke weed on
a weekly basis.

According to Student B, rather
than cripple his academics, as many
would expect, marijuana has actually
become a regular part of his studies.

“I feel like it helps me focus on
getting something done because
getting work done isn’t such a chore.
You can sort of just put your mind
to it and it doesn’t seem like work,”Student B said.

Student A shared a similar outlook.

“When I smoke, I feel more productive and creative, almost to
the point where I am more inquisitive
about things,” Student A said. “I
don’t really smoke before class, more
so just before I study. That, and when
I have to do the dishes, because, well,
everyone hates to do the dishes, but
they’re fine when you’re high.”

In addition, Student B also
described the act of smoking as a
communal pastime, which has the
potential to not only strengthen
already formed bonds, but also build
new ones.

“It’s fun, but it’s almost a social
event too. If you don’t know someone
you can sure sit down with them,
smoke a bowl, and after that you’re
certainly better friends than you were
before,” Student B said.

This point of view may be
especially thought provoking when
one considers Student B’s history of
marijuana use.

“I was always ‘the really good
kid’, and I never saw myself smoking,
until I had a couple of friends who
did it and I realized it wasn’t really
that big of a deal,” Student B said. “It
was actually kind of a big thing when
I started smoking because people
never really saw that coming.”

Regardless of their past or present
smoking habits both Student A and B
are adamant that they are in no way
addicted to marijuana.

“There’s been time where I get
bored with it, and won’t smoke foran extended period of time. I just do
it when it needs to be done,” Student
A said.

Again, Student B agreed.

“I would say it’s definitely a habit
forming thing. I started smoking my
senior year, and have smoked most
days since then, but I’ve also had
periods where I’ll take months off at
a time, even with access to it. I mean,
it’s just one of those things that if you
really need to not do it, you just don’t
do it,” Student B said.

Nonetheless, Siewert maintains
that marijuana is still a drug, and still
must be approached with the utmost
caution.

“Any substance can be abused,
any substance can be misused, and
you can experience consequences
from any substance,” Siewert said.

In regards to the effects of
marijuana in comparison to other
illegal substances, Siewert declined
to comment.

Conversely, though Student A
and Student B condone the use of
marijuana, they too acknowledge that
its regular use is not for everyone.

“I think it affects everyone
differently. There are some people
that just have negative experiences
with it, so it all depends on how you
react to it. I definitely feel like it’s an
experience that you need to have for
yourself,” Student A said.

Student B made a similar point.

“If you’ve never done it, have an
open mind,” Student B said. “Know
your limits and know how it affects
you. If it’s not for you, then it’s not
for you.”